City of WichitaNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94The latest podcasts and commentary from KMUW - Wichita 89.1 FM.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94City of WichitaThu, 17 May 2018 07:38:29 +0000City of Wichitahttp://kmuw.org
Nadya FaulxWichita City Council members on Tuesday approved a firm to design the water playgrounds that will replace several of the city’s pools .City Selects Firm To Design Wichita's New Pools, Splash Padshttp://kmuw.org/post/city-selects-firm-design-wichitas-new-pools-splash-pads
99589 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 15 May 2018 21:33:17 +0000City Selects Firm To Design Wichita's New Pools, Splash PadsDeborah ShaarWichita leaders and advisory board members are meeting this week with a national expert on building financially strong communities.Wichita Leaders Exploring Ideas For Future Community Needshttp://kmuw.org/post/wichita-leaders-exploring-ideas-future-community-needs
98962 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 01 May 2018 21:01:57 +0000Wichita Leaders Exploring Ideas For Future Community NeedsNadya FaulxWichita’s new Advanced Learning Library is nearing its grand opening.An Advance Look Inside Wichita's Advanced Learning Libraryhttp://kmuw.org/post/advance-look-inside-wichitas-advanced-learning-library
98825 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 27 Apr 2018 22:28:59 +0000An Advance Look Inside Wichita's Advanced Learning LibraryDeborah ShaarWork is beginning on a new urban wetlands park in northwest Wichita. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday for the park at 29th Street and Maize Road.Work Begins On Pracht Wetlands Park In Northwest Wichitahttp://kmuw.org/post/work-begins-pracht-wetlands-park-northwest-wichita
98497 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 23 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000Work Begins On Pracht Wetlands Park In Northwest WichitaDeborah ShaarThe city of Wichita is considering two development projects for the Topeka Street firehouse. One project would turn the building into a learning lab for Butler Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts programs. The other project would create a commercial property providing small spaces and common seating to start-ups, freelancers, artists and businesses. Mayor Jeff Longwell says developers will provide details at an open house on Thursday. "They will present their proposed developments for the fire station. We encourage all residents to come out and hear these proposals and comment on it," Longwell says. The city put the two-story former firehouse located at Topeka Avenue and Lewis Street up for sale in January to help revitalize the area. City officials considered the property a “catalyst” site to help spur development of nearby vacant lots and existing buildings. “We just want to see a robust development that hopefully will bring other opportunities to our city — whether itTwo Projects Under Consideration For Wichita’s Topeka St. Firehouse Redevelopmenthttp://kmuw.org/post/two-projects-under-consideration-wichita-s-topeka-st-firehouse-redevelopment
98495 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 23 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000Two Projects Under Consideration For Wichita’s Topeka St. Firehouse RedevelopmentDeborah ShaarA distinctive City of Wichita license plate will be available beginning January 2019 to help support city parks.Wichita Pride License Plates Support City Parkshttp://kmuw.org/post/wichita-pride-license-plates-support-city-parks
98486 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 20 Apr 2018 20:00:22 +0000Wichita Pride License Plates Support City ParksDeborah ShaarWichita’s Central Library downtown will close for good on May 6 after more than 50 years of service. Library staff members are preparing for the move to the new Advanced Learning Library which is set to open in mid-June. The modern new library at Second Street and McLean is nearly complete. Crews are now setting up the building technologies and installing hundreds of bookshelves. A moving company has been selected. Bids have been awarded for new furniture. Don Barry, chairman of the Wichita Public Library Foundation Board of Directors, says a capital campaign exceeded its goal so the extra money will be used to enhance the facility and technology. "The library space, not just for teens, kids and all of that has been expanded and will include resources and amenities to encourage the development of 21st Century learning skills," Barry says. The campaign funded a 10,000 square feet addition to the final design of the building. The campaign. which began in 2014, raised $8.8 million inWichita Central Library Closing Early May For Transition To Advanced Learning Libraryhttp://kmuw.org/post/wichita-central-library-closing-early-may-transition-advanced-learning-library
98485 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 20 Apr 2018 19:17:29 +0000Wichita Central Library Closing Early May For Transition To Advanced Learning LibraryDeborah ShaarThe youth baseball season begins Monday for League 42 in Wichita. The non-profit baseball organization is based out of McAdams Park near downtown, but some games are moving to Linwood Park while crews finish field renovations at McAdams. Construction delays due to high winds and cold weather forced organizers to push back opening ceremonies to next Monday. Bob Lutz, the executive director of League 42, says renovation work at two ball diamonds is nearly complete. “They are going to look absolutely fantastic," Lutz says. "They have new fencing, new backstops, new netting, new scoreboards, new dugouts — everything is new.” A new turf field and a restroom/concession facility were added to the McAdams baseball complex over the past few years. The city of Wichita paid about $1.5 million for the facility upgrades as part of its Capital Improvement Program. “We were able to advance our facilities because of that donation, and then create a vision where we can, as a nonprofit, go out and raiseRenovations To McAdams Baseball Complex Nearing Completionhttp://kmuw.org/post/renovations-mcadams-baseball-complex-nearing-completion
98245 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 16 Apr 2018 19:37:46 +0000Renovations To McAdams Baseball Complex Nearing CompletionNadya FaulxWork is scheduled to start next month on improvements to the Douglas Avenue railroad underpass.Work Starting Soon On Douglas Avenue Railroad Underpasshttp://kmuw.org/post/work-starting-soon-douglas-avenue-railroad-underpass
97514 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 30 Mar 2018 21:52:41 +0000Work Starting Soon On Douglas Avenue Railroad UnderpassDeborah ShaarA neighborhood association is creating a plan to improve safety in downtown Wichita’s growing communities. The Downtown Neighborhood Association started last year with the goal of bringing together people who live and work in Delano, Old Town, Commerce Street and the Douglas Design District. Association President Jason Van Sickle says the group is developing initiatives to improve safety in these neighborhoods. "Creating things like neighborhood groups, neighborhood watch groups, looking at the issues such as panhandling, issues such as homelessness, issues such as vagrancy and some things that we know happen, and also things like crime and safety," Van Sickle says. Van Sickle says they’re coordinating with the Wichita Police Department and city leaders, and expect to begin the new efforts this year. The city of Wichita launched safety and security improvements in Old Town in 2016. New lights and security cameras were installed , and a police substation opened. Van Sickle says hisNeighborhood Group Creating Safety Plan For Downtown Wichitahttp://kmuw.org/post/neighborhood-group-creating-safety-plan-downtown-wichita
97367 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 29 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0000Neighborhood Group Creating Safety Plan For Downtown WichitaNadya FaulxThe public got a look this week at a new design plan for Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita. The meeting Wednesday was the third public engagement event held since the redesign process started last year.City Narrows In On Design For Naftzger Parkhttp://kmuw.org/post/city-narrows-design-naftzger-park
97157 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 22 Mar 2018 17:00:00 +0000City Narrows In On Design For Naftzger ParkDeborah ShaarSen. Jerry Moran of Kansas is pushing Wichita as the headquarters of the U.S. Army’s new Futures Command. The Army is creating the command center to streamline its modernization-efforts and improve workflow to get faster decisions.Kansas Senator Moran Pushing Wichita As Future Site Of New Army Commandhttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-senator-moran-pushing-wichita-future-site-new-army-command
96813 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 19 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0000Kansas Senator Moran Pushing Wichita As Future Site Of New Army CommandNadya FaulxWith the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in town this week, a lot of street improvements have been underway ahead of Wichita’s time in the national spotlight.Downtown Construction Clears Up As NCAA Comes To Wichitahttp://kmuw.org/post/downtown-construction-clears-ncaa-comes-wichita
96547 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 12 Mar 2018 10:30:00 +0000Downtown Construction Clears Up As NCAA Comes To WichitaNadya FaulxThe Wichita City Council on Tuesday postponed indefinitely a decision on changes to the city’s fireworks laws.More Tweaks Needed Before Passing New Fireworks Law, City Council Sayshttp://kmuw.org/post/more-tweaks-needed-passing-new-fireworks-law-city-council-says
96327 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 06 Mar 2018 23:25:25 +0000More Tweaks Needed Before Passing New Fireworks Law, City Council SaysNadya FaulxWichita officials are looking at ways to spur more development in the center of the city, even as it expands outward.Wichita Officials Turn Focus Inward With Plan To Redevelop City's Corehttp://kmuw.org/post/wichita-officials-turn-focus-inward-plan-redevelop-citys-core
96242 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 05 Mar 2018 18:27:07 +0000Wichita Officials Turn Focus Inward With Plan To Redevelop City's CoreNadya FaulxThe city of Wichita has appointed a committee to help guide a final decision over the future of Century II. Mayor Jeff Longwell announced the 11-person committee at the annual Wichita Chamber luncheon Thursday. Members represent different businesses around town, as well as some of the performing arts groups that call Century II home, including the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Music Theatre Wichita and the Wichita Grand Opera. Today I announced a new committee that was formed to work alongside the citizen engagement process and provide recommendations on the future of performing arts and Century II. #ChamberWichita pic.twitter.com/45G0LhuW2u — Mayor Jeff Longwell (@jefflongwellict) February 1, 2018 “It’ll be a self-governing committee," he said. "And they will be tasked with preparing a recommendation to the mayor and the city council at the conclusion of the Century II input process, and this community engagement process that we’re getting ready to undertake.” The city late last yearCity Forms Committee To Make Recommendation For Future Of Century IIhttp://kmuw.org/post/city-forms-committee-make-recommendation-future-century-ii
94795 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 01 Feb 2018 23:14:33 +0000City Forms Committee To Make Recommendation For Future Of Century IIDeborah ShaarThe city of Wichita is looking to developers to revitalize an area near the Commerce Arts District and Intrust Bank Arena.Wichita Puts Firehouse Up For Sale To Spur Developmenthttp://kmuw.org/post/wichita-puts-firehouse-sale-spur-development
94013 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 17 Jan 2018 22:51:35 +0000Wichita Puts Firehouse Up For Sale To Spur DevelopmentStephan BisahaSpirit AeroSystems announced a plan Wednesday to add 1,000 new jobs and invest $1 billion in its Wichita facility over the next five years.Spirit Plans To Add 1,000 New Jobs In Wichitahttp://kmuw.org/post/spirit-plans-add-1000-new-jobs-wichita
92182 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 06 Dec 2017 20:12:28 +0000Spirit Plans To Add 1,000 New Jobs In WichitaNadya FaulxWichita residents will pay higher water and sewer rates starting next year after City Council members voted to move forward with planned infrastructure improvements. The overall utility rate will go up just over 6 percent: For residential customers, that means $2.69 to $6.72 more on their monthly water and sewer bills. It's slightly higher than last year's rate increase, and higher than the base increase anticipated this year. The additional revenue will go toward funding Phase II of the city's infrastructure maintenance and improvement project. Mayor Jeff Longwell said during discussions Tuesday that about a decade ago, the city didn't invest any money into water and sewer projects, and rate increases were highly debated. "It's frustrating, and, you know, at the end of the day it's hard to explain to the public that we're investing in their future, our future, everyone's future," he said. The city decided not to partner with CH2M Hill, the firm that handled Phase I of the optimizationWichita City Council Approves Water, Sewer Rate Increaseshttp://kmuw.org/post/wichita-city-council-approves-water-sewer-rate-increases
91531 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 21 Nov 2017 23:02:39 +0000Wichita City Council Approves Water, Sewer Rate IncreasesDeborah ShaarA woman will be leading the Wichita Fire Department for the first time in its 131-year history.Tammy Snow Named Wichita’s New Fire Chiefhttp://kmuw.org/post/tammy-snow-named-wichita-s-new-fire-chief
91307 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 17 Nov 2017 16:15:43 +0000Tammy Snow Named Wichita’s New Fire Chief